Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manual machines require skill to operate correctly and demand more steps in the workflow. Semi-automatic machines, e.g. Ninja Luxe Cafe and Breville models, make it easier to produce a good beverage but still require some effort. Fully automatic bean-to-cup machines are painless to use, but the quality of the drinks they make is inferior to those from manual and semi-automatic machines when those are used correctly. Fully automatic machines also are usually more expensive than semi-automatic designs.

If you just want to push a button are not too picky about drink quality, a fully automatic machine is the way to go. Many make decent, if not outstanding, drinks. For many people, the sweet spot is found with a semi-automatic design, which combines the quality potential of a portafilter machine with a higher level of convenience than is found in fully manual alternatives.

Very helpful thanks! I didn’t realize the difference.

I have had a Ninja Luxe Cafe 701 Model for several months and have been very pleased with it. It replaced a much more expensive superautomatic. The Luxe Cafe can make pretty much any espresso-based drink you can imagine, produces good drip-style coffee, and can make iced/cold coffee drinks, too. It is very versatile, and operating it is not difficult or complex. It does, however, benefit from a diligent review of its operating instructions, given the many variables the user can adjust. There are also helpful YouTube videos available, some from people who actually seem to know what they are talking about, e.g., Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner. Looking at a few of those may give you a sense of how the machine works and what you can expect from it. Ditto for Breville machines in a similar price category.

I got the Ninja Luxe for christmas... can anyone tell me if I can brew and froth at the same time? I can't figure it out and by the time the frother is done, I worry the coffee is cold.

No, you cannot. That would require dual boilers. Machines equipped with dual boilers generally start around $2K. Single boiler machines like the Ninja brew espresso and then froth sequentially.

No need to worry about the espresso temp - fill your cup with hot water and let it stand for a few minutes before emptying it and brewing your espresso. The pre-heated cup will help with heat retention, as does using double-walled insulated cups. And, the froth will be quite hot, keeping your overall drink at a comfortable drinking temperature once you add it to your espresso. You can also cue up frothing to start automatically once the coffee brewing phase ends - press the frothing button anytime after you start brewing your espresso. The machine will beep, and frothing will begin immediately after the espresso brewing phase is completed. Lastly, you can also make macchiato drinks, where you froth first, and then brew the espresso, pouring it on top of the froth/foam you first poured into your cup. Since frothing takes longer than brewing, both the froth/foam and espresso will likely be warmer than the drink would be if you instead make a conventional cappuccino or latte.

You could do a heat exchanger, which is a bit less than a dual boiler. I have a Quickmill Anita which ran about $1600

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manual machines require skill to operate correctly and demand more steps in the workflow. Semi-automatic machines, e.g. Ninja Luxe Cafe and Breville models, make it easier to produce a good beverage but still require some effort. Fully automatic bean-to-cup machines are painless to use, but the quality of the drinks they make is inferior to those from manual and semi-automatic machines when those are used correctly. Fully automatic machines also are usually more expensive than semi-automatic designs.

If you just want to push a button are not too picky about drink quality, a fully automatic machine is the way to go. Many make decent, if not outstanding, drinks. For many people, the sweet spot is found with a semi-automatic design, which combines the quality potential of a portafilter machine with a higher level of convenience than is found in fully manual alternatives.

Very helpful thanks! I didn’t realize the difference.

I have had a Ninja Luxe Cafe 701 Model for several months and have been very pleased with it. It replaced a much more expensive superautomatic. The Luxe Cafe can make pretty much any espresso-based drink you can imagine, produces good drip-style coffee, and can make iced/cold coffee drinks, too. It is very versatile, and operating it is not difficult or complex. It does, however, benefit from a diligent review of its operating instructions, given the many variables the user can adjust. There are also helpful YouTube videos available, some from people who actually seem to know what they are talking about, e.g., Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner. Looking at a few of those may give you a sense of how the machine works and what you can expect from it. Ditto for Breville machines in a similar price category.

I got the Ninja Luxe for christmas... can anyone tell me if I can brew and froth at the same time? I can't figure it out and by the time the frother is done, I worry the coffee is cold.

No, you cannot. That would require dual boilers. Machines equipped with dual boilers generally start around $2K. Single boiler machines like the Ninja brew espresso and then froth sequentially.

No need to worry about the espresso temp - fill your cup with hot water and let it stand for a few minutes before emptying it and brewing your espresso. The pre-heated cup will help with heat retention, as does using double-walled insulated cups. And, the froth will be quite hot, keeping your overall drink at a comfortable drinking temperature once you add it to your espresso. You can also cue up frothing to start automatically once the coffee brewing phase ends - press the frothing button anytime after you start brewing your espresso. The machine will beep, and frothing will begin immediately after the espresso brewing phase is completed. Lastly, you can also make macchiato drinks, where you froth first, and then brew the espresso, pouring it on top of the froth/foam you first poured into your cup. Since frothing takes longer than brewing, both the froth/foam and espresso will likely be warmer than the drink would be if you instead make a conventional cappuccino or latte.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manual machines require skill to operate correctly and demand more steps in the workflow. Semi-automatic machines, e.g. Ninja Luxe Cafe and Breville models, make it easier to produce a good beverage but still require some effort. Fully automatic bean-to-cup machines are painless to use, but the quality of the drinks they make is inferior to those from manual and semi-automatic machines when those are used correctly. Fully automatic machines also are usually more expensive than semi-automatic designs.

If you just want to push a button are not too picky about drink quality, a fully automatic machine is the way to go. Many make decent, if not outstanding, drinks. For many people, the sweet spot is found with a semi-automatic design, which combines the quality potential of a portafilter machine with a higher level of convenience than is found in fully manual alternatives.

Very helpful thanks! I didn’t realize the difference.

I have had a Ninja Luxe Cafe 701 Model for several months and have been very pleased with it. It replaced a much more expensive superautomatic. The Luxe Cafe can make pretty much any espresso-based drink you can imagine, produces good drip-style coffee, and can make iced/cold coffee drinks, too. It is very versatile, and operating it is not difficult or complex. It does, however, benefit from a diligent review of its operating instructions, given the many variables the user can adjust. There are also helpful YouTube videos available, some from people who actually seem to know what they are talking about, e.g., Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner. Looking at a few of those may give you a sense of how the machine works and what you can expect from it. Ditto for Breville machines in a similar price category.

I got the Ninja Luxe for christmas... can anyone tell me if I can brew and froth at the same time? I can't figure it out and by the time the frother is done, I worry the coffee is cold.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manual machines require skill to operate correctly and demand more steps in the workflow. Semi-automatic machines, e.g. Ninja Luxe Cafe and Breville models, make it easier to produce a good beverage but still require some effort. Fully automatic bean-to-cup machines are painless to use, but the quality of the drinks they make is inferior to those from manual and semi-automatic machines when those are used correctly. Fully automatic machines also are usually more expensive than semi-automatic designs.

If you just want to push a button are not too picky about drink quality, a fully automatic machine is the way to go. Many make decent, if not outstanding, drinks. For many people, the sweet spot is found with a semi-automatic design, which combines the quality potential of a portafilter machine with a higher level of convenience than is found in fully manual alternatives.

Very helpful thanks! I didn’t realize the difference.

I have had a Ninja Luxe Cafe 701 Model for several months and have been very pleased with it. It replaced a much more expensive superautomatic. The Luxe Cafe can make pretty much any espresso-based drink you can imagine, produces good drip-style coffee, and can make iced/cold coffee drinks, too. It is very versatile, and operating it is not difficult or complex. It does, however, benefit from a diligent review of its operating instructions, given the many variables the user can adjust. There are also helpful YouTube videos available, some from people who actually seem to know what they are talking about, e.g., Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner. Looking at a few of those may give you a sense of how the machine works and what you can expect from it. Ditto for Breville machines in a similar price category.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a game changer. We have the Breville Bambino Plus. It’s $499. My whole family has stopped buying espresso based drinks. We never go Starbucks.

The ones we make at home are better and now free. The machine has paid for itself.

I have had the Nespresso machine in the past, which is like a Kureg, I don’t recommend it. I thought it was pretty awful.